Barbie Calendar Makes Great Art

I recently found and reblogged the following picture on my tumblr (http://be-mine-interior-design.tumblr.com):

 

Of course, this room is gorgeous for many reasons. The bubblegum pink tufted bed...the chocolatey grass cloth walls...but for me the ARTWORK takes center stage. I was drawn to this art because it's fashion inspired, and reminded me of the work by Dior Beauty's resident artist Bil Donovan. Here is a sample of his fabulous work:

 Isn't that piece on the wall amazing?! It's a whopping 9'x5' watercolor painting, and an original...I can hear the $$$ adding up, but one can wish right?

So naturally I assumed that the art in the first picture were some original fashion sketches also out of the budget, until an amazing follower (http://ehmihleezee.tumblr.com/), informed me that the prints are actually out of the BARBIE CALENDAR. I couldn't believe it! But it's true, See for yourself:

^2011 Calendar

^ Barbie Fashion Model Collection 2012 Calendar

Illustrator Robert Best does one or more editions of these calendars every year, and for under $20 you can call one your very own. Grab some frames and you've got instant high end art.

Image via

I know I added a Barbie Calendar on my Christmas wish list!!
Will you? If not, many calendars have great prints for hanging as wall art. Do you have a favourite?

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Happy 50th Barbie

Jonathan Adler Decorates Barbie's Malibu Dream House

Barbie debuted on March 9, 1959 and I can still remember buying my very first 'Barbie'.  I was 10 years old and I saved my quarter weekly allowance until I had enough to buy her.  I remember looking at the rows of available 'models' until I finally chose one, that I think was to resemble Diana Ross of the Supremes.  She had a black Afro haircut and was wearing a long strapless black sequin gown with a fringe of black tulle on the bottom.  I still have her packed away somewhere.  I spent hours making houses for her from the sleeves of my paper cut-out dolls.  That is probably where my passion for Interior Design started.

     
Barbie's living room

Interior Designer, Jonathan Adler has decked out a real-life 3,500-square-foot pad overlooking the Pacific Ocean to look like the blond doll's outrageous home to celebrate her 50th birthday. He was commissioned by Mattel Inc. to decorate the house for today's party.  The installation took six months of planning and a few weeks to install.

I love what Adler said about having Barbie as a client:
"Barbie was a dream client because she doesn't exist as a person, she exists as fantasy and
is the perfect client because she's always happy and fun and loves everything."

He lined Barbie's bedroom with wall-to-wall pink carpeting emblazoned with her initial. Her closet is filled with 50 pairs of pink peep-toe heels while her kitchen is stocked with cupcake-making ingredients. An in-house museum features 25 vintage Barbie dolls on display. In the garage? A pink Volkswagen New Beetle with a motorized pop-up vanity in the trunk. 

So where's Ken?  "Ken's around, but does she need Ken?" said Adler. "No." 

  
                                                                                                                          The Jonathan Adler edition Barbie

 

 
Images from Barbie Collector

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PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm writing about lifestyle and
WHAT'S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.
2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

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